Cinema
Mother India
Mehboob Khan · 1957
Synopsis
On the day a dam meant to ease the peasants' lot is inaugurated, the old Radha remembers. As a young bride, she saw her mother-in-law fall into debt for the wedding to the moneylender Sukhilala, who has been demanding endless interest ever since. Her husband Shamu, his arms crushed in an accident, leaves the house; alone, between floods and famine, Radha raises her sons, the gentle Ramu and the rebellious Birju, who forgives the moneylender nothing.
Context
The film is a new version, in colour, of Aurat, which Mehboob Khan had shot in 1940; Kanhaiyalal takes up the role of the moneylender again. During the filming of the fire scene, at Umra near Surat, the fire got out of the crew's control and Sunil Dutt, who played the rebellious son, saved Nargis from the flames; they married in 1958. The title answers the pamphlet by the American Katherine Mayo, Mother India (1927), which disparaged Indian society.
Who it is for
A long film, nearly three hours, in Hindi and in colour, punctuated by songs; the story is one long flashback.
Prizes and reception
The first Indian film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, losing by a single vote to Nights of Cabiria; Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Actress.
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